The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed that the country’s unemployment rate spiked to 5.3% in July 2025—its highest level in three years. This translates to 2.59 million Filipinos without work.
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Usec. Claire Dennis Mapa said the string of recent calamities severely impacted job availability across multiple sectors. The survey was conducted in July 2025, during the onslaught of Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong, compounded by an intensified Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).
“Sa mga sectors na medyo sensitive sa weather ang ating, ang may pagbaba, agriculture, you have construction, you have fishing and in a way, yung retail trade,” Mapa explained.
According to the PSA breakdown:
- 1.38 million jobs were lost in agriculture and forestry
- 897,000 in wholesale and retail trade
- 173,000 in fishing and aquaculture
- 147,000 in construction
Mapa added that even specialized industries took heavy damage: “Malaki ang bawas dun sa vegetable growing industry, almost 100,000+ din yun, yung handfarming ofcourse ASF (African Swine Fever),” he noted.
The PSA also reported that the underemployment rate climbed to 14.8%, meaning more Filipinos with jobs are seeking additional work or income.
Labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) slammed the Marcos administration, calling for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to replace his economic team. The group argued that while jobs exist, many remain low-quality and low-paying.
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma acknowledged that persistent rains, floods, and disasters have disrupted businesses, livelihoods, and government programs. The DOLE vowed to strengthen labor market interventions to stabilize the situation.